More beans? Rally has farmers pondering the switch

With the CME Group soybean market trading over $15.00 per bushel Friday, can you hear the tractors planting corn idling down, heading to the shed to switch corn out for soybean seed?

The falling South American crop estimates have put the CME Group July soybean market on a path to reach all-time highs of $16.63 per bushel, some analysts say.

With the month of May a few days away, U.S. farmers have ample time to answer the call of the market for an additional 2.0 million soybean acres in 2012.

The USDA will update it's stocks numbers on May 10. But, it's not until June 30th when the governmental agency refreshes their estimate for U.S. planted acres.

"June 30th will be a very important report for the soybean market," one CME Group floor trader, requesting anonymity, says. "I hope we see large acres and good weather, from here on out. Too many things on one side of the boat is not good for anyone, even the farmer. If we kill off the export trade growth with high prices, we will end up paying for it later," the floor trader says.

Acreage Shifts

Farmers in the Marketing Talk section Friday debate the switching of acres from corn to soybeans. "I really see no reason to switch to beans from corn acres myself. I live in Nebraska, but if you can raise 200 bushel dryland corn at $5.00, that's $1000/acre. If you grow 60 bushel beans, at $14.00 that's $840/acre. For me. I'd plant corn," highyields says.

Mizzou_Tiger sees the switch to more soybean acres already happening.

"In this day and age, where the majority of soybeans are mainly delivered in bulk form, there will be plenty in a short amount of time if need be. Not to mention the natural cushion soybean planting allows in some extra time."

Meanwhile, Farmerjoe79, sees likely benefits from a sharply higher soybean market. "I think a guy is going to be surprised when the acreage report comes out in June. Why not plant beans and own corn on the board. Makes for a lot easier fall and beans are more profitable at these price levels," Farmerjoe79 says.

Cost of Production

The cost of production, not seed availability, will be the deciding factor for the U.S. farmer to switch acreage.

One of the first things that will be considered before switching acres (if the original intent was planting corn) is did the farmer apply nitrogen to the area in which they are considering to switch from corn to soybeans, Steve Kahler, Teucrium Trading analyst says.

"If nitrogen has been applied, the price spread would have to make up for the cost of the nitrogen given soybeans do not consume nitrogen," Kahler says.

Timing is a second major consideration for farmers trying to decide to switch acreage. "If unplanted areas intended to be planted to corn continue to see wet and cool weather conditions, farmers may decide to swing acres towards soybeans if planting date becomes late enough. It doesn't appear to be a major threat in most areas at this time," Kahler says.